PAGE 2 ASA FOOTNOTES AUGUST 1983

James F. Short, Jr.: A Profile of the New ASA President by Lois B. Defleur, nois and eastern Washington in Jim’s work, by recognizing his ta- ambitious project in Chicago to criminology. His alma mater, De- Washington State University small, rural communities. He lents and, when necessary, by bring data to bear on competing nisonUn~ ersity. awardedhim an grew up in New Berlin, Illinois, granting leaves that enable him to theoretical formulations of the honorary degree in 1975. Other When you think of Jim Short, the eldest of three sons of Chris- go to where his data were causes of juvenile delinquency— honors are toonumerous to detail. you think of Washington State tian, church-oriented parents. His located—Chicago, Washington, particularly gang delinquency. With Jim’s dedication to sociolo- University. Jim has beenat Wash- father was a public school admi- D.C., the Far East and other This project culminated in the in- gy, social action and social policy, ington State University for thirty- nistrator. Education, family and places. In 1964, Jim and his col- fluenlial book. Group Process and it is not surprising that his con- two years and he and his family religion were the pivotal elements leagues at Washington State Uni- Gang Deliquency. Usinga variety of sulting activities cover a broad are an integral part of the Univer- of his early years, even as today, versity received an NIMH field research techniques, as well range. He is much in demand as a sity and community. In the fifteen education, family and basic Training Grant for the study ofDe- as laboratory studies, Short and speaker, and consulted by many years I have been associated with humanistic values continue as viance, a program which contin- his colleagues delineated the com- research programs, universities, Jim Short and Washington State, dominant forces in his life. ued for fifteen years. I inherited plex situational, cultural and in- and professional organizations, many people have asked me why Military service in the early for- that program when Jim was on stitutional contexts of the social including the Illinois Institute for he stays at this middle-sized, rural ties found Jim in the U.S. Marines leave from WSU, buthe continued behavior of gang boys. The group Juvenile Research, the Education- university when his work focuses OfficerTraining Corps, first at De- to participate throughout its ex- processes mechanisms they de- al Testing Service, review panels on urban, social problems and he nison University, and after Parris istence. Jim’s dedication to the scribed provide the underpinning for the National Institutes of has had many opportunities to Island and Camp Pendleton, in University also has made him a of much of the current work in Health and the National Science leave. It’s not difficult to answer Japan with the occupation forces. much sought after committee juvenile delinquency. Foundation, and the General So- this question when you un- Jim returned to Denison to com- member and consultant on uni- Jim Short’s work as co-director cial Survey Advisory Committee. derstand something about the plete his undergraduate education versity affairs. He has beena lead- for research of the National Com- In the State of Washington,he was man, his background and how his in the Fall of 1946. erin facultygroups and from 1964 mission on Causes and Prevention appointed to the Governor’s Advi- career developed at Washington Jim Short’s post-wareducation, to 1968 he was Dean of the Gradu- of Violence led him into new areas sory Committee for the De- State University. by his own account, was both ex- ate School. A good deal of per- of investigation and publication, partment of Social and HealthSer- Jim Shortcame to Pullman from citing and perplexing. He sorted sonal credit for Jim’s longtenure at the most recent example of which vices. His willingness to serve in Chicago buthe is a small town per- out career, philosophical, moral Washington State University goes is an assessment of collective vio- these roles is matched by few son from Sangamon County in and other issues that developed tocolleagues at Washington State, lence since the 1960s, prepared sociological colleagues. central Illinois. He completed his from his background and, as is and especially tohis friend, Wallis (with SandraBall-Rokeach) for the As most sociologists know, Jim PhD at the University of Chicago true for most of us, his journey Beasley, who was Chair of the De- Eisenhower Foundation. For the Short has been most unselfish in in 1951 when academic jobs were into sociology owed much to sig- partment when Jim was hired, past half-dozen years, Jim and the time and energy he has con- both scarce and low-paying. He nificant mentors. F.G. Detweiller and who later became Vice Presi- several graduate students and fac- tributed to professional associa- had job offers from several col- and W.A. Pitcher at Denison dent for Academic Affairs, and ulty colleagues have beenworking tions. He has been elected to leges in the midwest but decided steered him toward sociologyand, then Executive Vice President of in the area of white collar crime numerous positions in organiza- to accept an acting instructorship more importantly, the University the University. and on the study of public reac- tions such as the Law and Society (at a salary of $3,900) at the State of Chicago. When he arrived at During the time I have been a tions to hazards. This study has Association, the Society for the College of Washington (now Chicago in 1947, he was both fas- colleague of Jim Short’s, I have led him to fundamental concerns Study of Social Problems, the Washington State University). He cinated and awe-struck by its discovered a lot about the man with the relationship between in- Pacific Sociological Association, remembers that Ernest W. thriving intellectual climate. Un- and his interests. He has a keen stitutional trust and acceptable and the American Sociological Burgess recommended Washing- derthe watchfuleye of caring and sense of humor and he appreciates risk. Association, including a term ton State as having a good De- astute associatesat the University, the great natural beauty of the Jim’s pursuit of his own in- (from 1977 to 1980) as ASA Secre- partment of Sociology and be- Jim began to sort out his orienta- Northwest. He relaxes by tellectual interests has not pre- tary. These activities have been cause it was a major state univer- lions about basic values, social ac- spending hours in his garden or at vented efforts on behalf ofothers. mutually rewarding, and Jim sity. Jim and his wife, Kelma, tion, research and sociology. One the family lake cottage in North He currently serves as Associate highly recommends professional wanted to move out of the mid- of his first courses at Chicago was Idaho. Jim and Kelma have two Editor of the Annual Review of association participation for its so- west and they “migrated” partly a seminar inSociology of Religion children, daughter, Susan (a Sociology and as a consulting editor cial as well as intellectual gratifica- out of a sense of adventure and by Samuel Kincheloe who taught speech therapist and mother of of the Journal of Criminal Law and tions. their love of the out-of-doors. him a fundamental skepticism the recent joy of their lives, their Criminology. He has served on the Jim is hard at work on plans for Thus, most of Jim Short’s life has about the social world. Andy Hen- first grandchild, James Aaron editorial boards of several other the 1984 meetings in San Antonio been spent on the prairies of Illi- ry was his closest associate in Castleberry), and son, Michael, a journals, and special issues of and, not unexpectedly, the theme graduate school, but he rubbedin- professional photographer. Kel- three bear the imprint of his ta- reflects his intellectual back- tellectual elbows with many ma is a dedicated volunteerfor the lents: the American Behavioral Sci- ground. Sessions and thematic Information for others, including Ethel Shanas, hospital, library, and the fine arts. entist, the Annals of the American panels will focus on the social fabr- Harold Wilensky, Harold Fines- Both Jim and Kelma are avid pat- Academy of Political and Social Sci- ic, surely the most fundamentalof Hearing-Impaired tone, Albert Elias, and Albert rons of the arts, Over the years ence, and the Journal ofResearch in sociological concerns. As with all Biderman. After four years, Jim they haveassembled a fine collec- Crime and Delinquency. of his labors, he brings to these Hearing-impaired sociolog- had a PhD and was thoroughly tion of graphics, paintings, and Perhaps his most significant tasks attributes that have served ists attending the Annual hooked on sociology and “The sculptures. editorial contributions are re- him throughout his career—high Meeting in Detroit can bring Chicago School”, Jim’s published work began flected in his editorship of the intelligence, diplomacy and un- their own modular amplified with his collaboration with An- American Sociological Review from derstanding. Jim and I “go back a telephones for use either at William F. Ogburn and Ernest long ways”, as the saying goes. I W. Burgess served on Jim’s thesis drew Henry, based on their PhD 1972 through 1974. 1 had the good the Book Cadillac or at the dissertations. The result was fortune to share these responsibi- am proud to be his colleague and Westin Hotel. All guest rooms committee and he was also much to introduce him as the 75th Presi- influenced by Everett Hughes, Suicide and Homicide, which, after lities when Jim appointed Lee at the Book Cadillac Hotel are dent of the American Sociological Philip Hauser, Clifford Shaw, nearly thirty years, stands as a Freese and me Deputy Editors. It equiped with proper wall out- landmark of empirical analysis in was a great experience. Lee and I Association. lets to receive modular ampli- Albert J. Reiss, Jr., Morris Jano- witz and others. He owes a great the service of theory. This laun- neverceased tobe amazed at Jim’s fied telephones. All guest ched a prolific career. His books, patience and diplomacy in dealing rooms on floors 9-60 at the deal, also, to a later generation of Biographical Chicago sociologists who were on chapters and articles in pro- with authors, reviewers, editors, Directory of Members Westin Hotel have also been fessional journals and encyclope- publishers, and the ASA. We once adapted to receive modular the faculty when Jim returned to Members, $15 the University toconduct his gang dia cover a broad range of topics. received a letter from a rejected Non-members & Institutions, amplified telephones. In addi- research, from 1959 to 1962. The Jim probably is best known for his author saying Jim’s was the nicest $25 tion, the Westin Hotel has five mark of his education and his studies of juvenile delinquency, rejection letter he had ever re- modular amplified tele- includingthe developmentofself- ceived! phones for use by hearing- associations at the University of Chicago are reflected in his report methodology and theory Many national and in- impaired guests who are un- testing using self-reports. The able to bring their own hand- writing, teaching, and service ac- ternational honors have been be- Classified Ads tivities. He is dedicated to the self-report research was made sets. Guests at the Westin stowed upon Jim Short. He has scientific study of social problems, possible initially by a Faculty Re- been a Guggenheim fellow and a needing to borrow a modular search Fellowship from the Social Ican help you with your article, book, amplified handset may do so to the application of basic theory fellow at the Center for Advanced to social action, and to pro- Science Research Council. That Study in the Behavioral Sciences, or paper. Expertediting for style, clar- by calling Ms. Sally Schneider work, and collaboration with ity, mechanics. Experiencedin sociolo- at (313) 568-8309. The Book fessional activities which serve the as well as a visiting fellow at the gical material. Karen Feinberg, 5755 discipline. Hisearly work withthe Washington State University col- Institute of Criminology at Cam- Cadillac has no modular am- league, Ivan Nye, launched a Nahant, Cincinnati, OH 45224; (513) plified handsets to loan. Chicago Planning Commission, as bridge and at the RockefellerCen- 542-8328. well as later service with the whole field of investigationin de- ter in Bellagio, Italy. Most recent- The Elias Brothers Restau- For sale: Transaction, vols. 3-12. Best National Commission on the viance. ly, he was awarded a senior fel- rant, located in the lobby of offer. V. D’Andrea, Box U-68, Univer- the Westin Hotel, offers Brail- Causes and Prevention of Vio- Jim’s association with Clifford lowship by the Japan Society for sity of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268. lence and a variety of professional Shaw, Henry McKay, Solomon Ic menus on request. the Promotion of Science, for a Theory and Societyfor sale. Complete Th Book Cadillac Hotel has associations are illustrative of Korbrin and Albert Cohen fueled series of lectures throughout set of all 12 volumes, which includes m ~ed e eral guest rooms these commitments. his interest in gang delinquency. Japan. His peers have recognized forthcoming issues for 1983. $400 (in- ~o accommodate wheelchair It is to the credit of Washington In the late 1950s, withFred Strodt- him with a number of honors in- cludes shipping in USA). I. Hanson, u~cr~. State University that the institu- beck and others at the University cluding the Edwin H. Sutherland 1601 W. Walnut, Carbondale, IL lion has been willing to facilitate of Chicago, Jim undertook an and Paul W. Tappan awards in 62901.